This is a phrase that folks in the plant world use to describe how a specific plant or garden design might change throughout the seasons. For example, an evergreen has a single season of interest, as it remains static throughout the year. A mountain ash, on the other hand, has four seasons of interest; spring flowers, delicate summer foliage, autumn colour and fruit, and an attractive open framework to appreciate in the winter. When considering the plants to choose for any garden, but especially a small one, you should think about what looks good at different times of year.

When planning a new garden, I always think about the winter first. It’s when we crave colour and interest the most, so it seems the logical place to start. Native dogwoods, when cut hard in the spring, will have vibrant red-to-orange stems that will shine out from the snow. Burning bush maintains delicate, jewel-like red berries through the winter months. Birch and cherry trees have interesting bark and sweeping, open branches that will sway in the winter wind, making the garden feel alive. This is when an expert really comes in handy – it’s hard to plan a garden so that something is always looking good. But with good advice and even better planning, you can have something blooming from the last frost to the first snow.

I hope this has gotten you thinking about your garden and your plans for the coming season. And remember, gardening is a constant learning experience. Even those of us who’ve been gardening for a lifetime make mistakes. The important thing is that we learn, and try, and garden for ourselves. If your garden suits you, and your tastes, then it is a beautiful garden. Keep that in mind

The excitement of a new gardening season is infectious, and it’s extremely easy to get carried away. But before you start spending money on plants, it’s important to take the time to understand the space you have. This is especially true for any of you that may have moved over the winter months. It’s crucial to study your garden, and understand it, before you start planting. This will save you lots of money and heartache in the long run. And, hey, in the meantime you can plant seasonal pots to tide you over until you can really start designing your space. So, where to begin?

This might seem like an odd place to start, but stick with me here. How many times have you been thinking about the garden on a February morning, and couldn’t remember when you planted something, or the specific variety of annual flower you really enjoyed in your window boxes? A physical notebook, one with a hardcover that you can hold easily in one hand, is invaluable. Make note of when you started your seedlings, which plants worked and which ones didn’t; failures, successes, things you want to change and observations you’ve made. Choose a notebook you can easily carry around the garden with you. I started doing this several years ago, and being able to look back at previous gardening seasons has been hugely beneficial.

Test your soil. Understanding your soil is the crucial first step in a successful garden. Pick up a soil testing kit to figure out the PH levels of your soil. Get your hands into the soil! Take a fistful and give it a good squeeze; if the soil falls apart immediately when you open your hand, you likely have soil with a high content of sand. If it maintains the shape you squeezed it into, you have clay. If it somewhat retains the shape, and has a lovely smell like a forest in the autumn, then you have a loamy soil, which is the most ideal for a large number of plants. 

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